Advances in the restorative drying industry over the past couple of years have amazed me. Five years ago I would have never thought we would be where we are today.

More applied research
In the early days of this business, industry leaders and innovators did considerable research. This research consisted of knowing what has worked for them along with information from technical resources, literature, books and manufacturers. Then, these leaders passed on the "science of drying" on to the rest of the industry in training events through various trade association and distribution networks.

That's one thing I love about this industry. When someone learns something new, most dedicated people in this industry will share it. I have always been an advocate for better-trained, quality competitors. You should be, too. When we continually improve our standard of care, our industry will receive higher marks from the stakeholders in water losses. We will all win.

Three facilities in North America are regularly researching restorative drying techniques, equipment applications and process development. More facilities will surely pop up in the near future. I manage one of these facilities and I can tell you it's one of the best jobs in the world—getting to flood a building and trying different methods of getting it dry better and faster!

Some of this research is simply trial and error learning. However, much of this research is actually being conducted using scientific methodology. It's very difficult to use this method of research in restorative drying because every building is different and every loss is different.

That's why restorative drying is an art based on scientific principles. The better we understand the scientific principles, the better artists we become.

Drying techniques
I can remember the job to this day. It was about 15 years ago. The loss was a leaking fresh water supply line in a bathroom. The water only migrated into the hallway in the middle of the traffic path. It was a pretty common loss.

I counted seven seams I would have to open to pull the pad and float the carpet. These seams were perfect. I'm good at putting seams back together, but this would have been a challenge.

I tried something different. I worked very hard at extracting the water. Then I placed air movers over all wet materials, isolated the drying area to the best of my ability and used more dehumidification than normal. I was surprised, but it worked.

I never incorporated the technique into my regular drying procedures, but I knew it would work if I needed it. It was an additional tool in my toolbox and I used it several times over the years.

Today, hundreds of restorative drying companies are using this technique—now called in-place drying—successfully (with a slightly different twist). It works when appropriate and I see it becoming the standard method of drying in the future. However, I do fear restorers will attempt this without proper training.

In addition to in-place drying (also called top-down drying or surface drying), numerous other techniques have been developed. Most of these techniques are equipment-focused. These drying solutions are all based on a win-win-win attitude in our industry. If the restorer, client, building occupants and insurance companies don’t benefit, the techniques have little value.

Better education
In the past couple of years, restorative drying education has changed. There are new schools that have changed traditional training techniques. These schools have actual structures that are flooded with substantial amounts of water. These classes then dry the building, leading to a real understanding of the science of drying.

Restorers with 20 years experience in restorative drying generally leave these classes in awe. The classes are expensive compared to traditional industry training but I've yet to find anyone who didn't feel like they got their money's worth. If you haven't been to one, consider it carefully.

Advanced equipment
Restorative drying equipment is changing as well. Air movers are consuming fewer amps of electricity, an issue on any significant water loss. New extraction devices improve the chance of success when performing in-place drying.

New technology in refrigerant dehumidification allows for continued water vapor removal at lower moisture loads. Desiccant dehumidifiers are becoming more user-friendly and energy-efficient. Wall and cavity drying systems are offering solutions never before available. Chemical products specifically designed for restorative drying have been developed.

I envision a day when we will be able to place equipment and instrumentation on a drying project. All of the equipment will be connected to a "control center" able to analyze conditions on the project such as atmospheric conditions in and around the drying environment, moisture conditions of materials, etc. This control center will be able to notify the technician via modem of changing conditions.

Heightened awareness
One of the driving forces that will raise this industry's recognition to all stakeholders in a water loss is the awareness of potential health problems and liability issues because of mold and other microorganisms as a result of an improperly handled water loss. Buildings are not dry until they are dry! With all of the media attention to contamination issues, building occupants will want and insist on a restorative drying contractor that is properly equipped and trained.

The industry has been preaching the hazards of mold and other contamination issues for years. Finally, both the public and insurance industry have recognized the need for proper restoration. My hope is that all parties can listen to each other and come to a workable resolution. I envision the days of adversarial relationships being a thing of the past.

The restorative drying industry has passed the stage of being an emerging industry to becoming a growing industry. The opportunities are boundless. Get on board and get ready for a wild ride!

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